Ma THE Cheshire withdraw from 50 over Championship, but remain in T20 and announce new DAZZLER 153 Player Pathway … Cheshire T20 fixtures announced … CWCL 2017 fixtures - Chester to start title defence against Oakmere, Appleton and Oakmere drawn together in knockout round one … Chester launch development team in division three … Agreed regulation changes summarised here … CWCL year in review …. CHESHIRE WOMEN’S LEAGUE The opening league fixtures on April 23 see 2016 league champions Chester Boughton Hall play Oakmere at home. After winning division two last year, Stockport Trinity kick off their division one campaign at home to Didsbury, while Leigh, newly promoted to division two, travel to Wistaston Village. Chester Boughton Hall have confirmed they will enter a Development team in division three. Appleton and Oakmere will meet in a heavyweight clash in round one of this year’s Senior Knockout Cup. Holders Didsbury will host Wistaston in the quarter finals. The full draw is: Round One: Appleton Tigers v Oakmere Kats Quarter Finals: (1) Winner Round One match v Stockport Trinity Fire, (2) Ashton-on-Mersey v Chester Boughton Hall Deemons, (3) Didsbury Swordettes v Wistaston Swans, (4) Bredbury Saints v Oxton. Semi Finals: Winner 1 v Winner 2, Winner 3 v Winner 4 The draw for the Development Knockout Cup is: Quarter Final: Stockport Georgians v Lymm Lightning Semi Finals: Winner quarter-final v Bredbury Saints, Hawarden Park v Didsbury 2nd XI All fixtures with the exception of T20 Western Division have been issued with this newsletter. These fixtures will be released next week after a decision is reached on Oxton’s participation in this competition. The following regulations changes have been adopted after the votes at the recent Rules meeting: 1.(Division 3 only). Matches will be played as 20 overs per side unless the two teams mutually agree to play the match as 30 overs per side. Teams aspiring to be promoted to Division 2 for the following season are encouraged to play as many 30 over matches as possible. 2. (Division 3 only). At least 50% of a team’s line up in any match must comprise members of that team’s squad, the remainder can be players obtained via the Loan System (replaces the previous regulation whereby a team needed six of their own players to use the Loan System). 3. (Divisions 1-3): Batting points will no longer be granted for batting a certain number of overs. (Batting points awarded will now only be based on runs scored, and only five batting points will be available to each team). 4. (Division 1/2 only). Where adverse weather is predicted prior to the end of normal hours of play, the two teams can by mutual consent, and prior to the start of the match, agree to reduce the number of overs per side to anything between 20 and 39 even though no playing time may have been lost. 5. (Division 3 only). In matches played as 20 overs per side each bowler can bowl a maximum of five overs. In matches played as 30 overs per side two bowlers on each side can bowl a maximum of eight overs and the remaining bowlers a maximum of seven overs. A full committee meeting will be held at Lymm Oughtrington Park CC on Tuesday March 28 at 1930. This will be preceded by the annual Captains’ Briefing from 1830. Any captain unable to attend must ensure their vice-captain attends instead. Takeaway pizza will be provided free of charge for captains attending this briefing. CHESHIRE SENIORS A new Player Pathway for Cheshire county cricket has been put in place. The key points of this Pathway include: There remains uncertainty over the long term future of women’s county cricket, with the ECB still committed in the longer term to expanding the Women’s Super League. Cheshire’s senior team will now only compete in the T20 Championship, and not in the 50 over County Championship / One-Day Championship. Cheshire remain fully committed to the T20 competition. The new pathway will allow players to progress from the Cheshire youth set-up (which will remain unaltered) to Lancashire 2nd team, and then if good enough to Lancashire’s first team, the Lancashire Thunder Super League team, the England Senior Academy and then the full England squad. Lancashire’s second team will have a structured programme of fixtures against the second teams of other division one counties in 2017. Hence the opportunities for players from Cheshire to progress to the top of women’s cricket remain unaltered. Sophie Ecclestone from Cheshire has made it to the top recently, and Laura MacLeod, Lauren Griffiths and Sarah Collyer are all Cheshire players who have progressed to the England senior squad in the last 20 years. By only playing T20, and thus only having four county matchdays, it is hoped availability amongst the existing Cheshire squad will improve, and that some players who have opted out of county cricket in recent years will be tempted to return to the fold. There will be no CWCL fixtures in division 1/2 scheduled for these four matchdays. CHESHIRE SENIORS A new Player Pathway for Cheshire county cricket has been put in place. The key points of this Pathway include: There remains uncertainty over the long term future of women’s county cricket, with the ECB still committed in the longer term to expanding the Women’s Super League. Cheshire’s senior team will now only compete in the T20 Championship, and not in the 50 over County Championship / One-Day Championship. Cheshire remain fully committed to the T20 competition. The new pathway will allow players to progress from the Cheshire youth set-up (which will remain unaltered) to Lancashire 2nd team, and then if good enough to Lancashire’s first team, the Lancashire Thunder Super League team, the England Senior Academy and then the full England squad. Lancashire’s second team will have a structured programme of fixtures against the second teams of other division one counties in 2017. Hence the opportunities for players from Cheshire to progress to the top of women’s cricket remain unaltered. Sophie Ecclestone from Cheshire has made it to the top recently, and Laura MacLeod, Lauren Griffiths and Sarah Collyer are all Cheshire players who have progressed to the England senior squad in the last 20 years. By only playing T20, and thus only having four county matchdays, it is hoped availability amongst the existing Cheshire squad will improve, and that some players who have opted out of county cricket in recent years will be tempted to return to the fold. There will be no CWCL fixtures in division 1/2 scheduled for these four matchdays. Players are free to approach Lancashire or any other county for their 50 over cricket, whilst remaining with Cheshire for T20. The CWCL will examine opportunities to provide additional representative cricket via its League XI. More details of the plans will be revealed at a meeting to be held at Warrington Sports Club this Saturday (January 14) at 1830. Anyone attending should let Sarah McCann or Jennie Kitzinger know as soon as possible, as food will be served at the meeting, via [email protected] / [email protected] Cheshire’s fixtures in Division 3 Group B of the NatWest Women’s County T20 are listed here. Contrary to previous indications, the ECB has in fact regionalised this competition below the top two divisions. The regional divisions each comprise only six teams, so each team will play some teams twice and others only once. The winners of Group B will be promoted to Division 2. June 18 Lincolnshire H 1030 Shropshire H 1630 July 2 Lincolnshire A 1030 Cumbria Lincolnshire venue 1330 16 Northumberland Cumbria venue 1330 Cumbria A 1630 30 Leicestershire A 1030 Shropshire Leicestershire venue 1330 CHESHIRE JUNIOR GIRLS’ TEAMS All are invited to a seminar on Thursday January 26 at 1830 at Warrington Sports Club to discuss the growth of Women and Girls cricket in Cheshire. The agenda includes: An overview of the current playing offer for girls, and the Girls’ League’s expansion plans for 2017 An overview of the Cheshire Women’s League Plans for new Women’s softball competitions for players new to the game The new Cheshire Women and Girls pathway (see above under the Cheshire seniors section) How to start a girls’ section at your club – a case study Please reserve places via Jessica Lewis at the Cheshire Cricket Board – [email protected] OTHER NEWS A Level 1 Umpires course will take place at Oakmere CC on April 1 and April 8 from 0930 to 1630 each day. The cost is £40, which includes the provision of an MCC law book to all participants. Please book using the form sent to your club representative, or contact Geoff Young via 01352 755881 / [email protected]. The ECB are staging three regional conferences for women who coach or manage cricket teams. The north west regional conference takes place at Myerscough College, Preston on January 29 at 1000. The aims of the session include: Build confidence Share ideas and practices Inspire coaches Build a link between ECB and coaches OTHER NEWS continued The ECB are staging three regional conferences for women who coach or manage cricket teams. The north west regional conference takes place at Myerscough College, Preston on January 29 at 1000. The aims of the session include: Build confidence Share ideas and practices Inspire coaches Build a link between ECB and coaches Create a forum of female coaches Enhance ongoing CPD Booking details can be found here.